Dundee

(Written while on the trains, edited and photos added in hotel)

 Arrived at Manchester Piccadilly very early and found the first-class lounge. Somewhat later went to platform 14 which is the furthest it can be from the lounge, only to learn that my train was running at least 12 minutes late.

We left Manchester Piccadilly 17 minutes late but the Transpennine (TP) train is very comfortable, has coathooks in very convenient places and pull-down blinds for the windows. 

TP train with good facilities

Now at Lancaster but still only breakfast available and 17 minutes late. There's a little rain on the window,  the first since this tour started 9 days ago. 

We've been through Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle since the above and I've listened to an interesting The Life Scientific (BBC radio 4) on space medicine among other things. Not many photos so far today.

Dark clouds near Penrith

Crossing River Esk

Misty rain near Tebay

We're still running up to 20min late. This isn't a Pendolino train (which tilts around bends) but it can still do 125mph so we're probably limited to 110mph on the bendy west coast line.

Happily haven't seen rain since Lancaster. Midway between Kendal and Penrith is Shap summit. According to my speed and altitude app we're now descending so we must have passed it. 

Near Lockerbie just past the summit

We will top that tomorrow at the Drumochter summit which is the highest point on UK network rail at 450m.

Edinburgh 15 minute late, that's fine, only half-an-hour to wait for the Dundee train. My seat is OK but backwards facing. Pretty soon we were crossing the Forth Rail Bridge.

Forth rail bridge

Then we skirted around the south coast of the Kingdom of Fife.

Forth bridge from Burntisland

Burntisland at low tide

Rather later than I'd hoped there was lunch. I opted for the Ploughman's Grazing Box and a beer.

lunch

Pretty soon we crossed the River Tay into Dundee, the centre of which is totally changed from 1967 when I was a student here. 

This hill in Dundee is known as The Law

Newport on Tay from the Tay rail bridge

I'm staying a couple of nights in a hotel which occupies the top 4 floors of a new building on top of the station. 

It's fairly basic but has everything you need for a short stay. It's the first hotel I've stayed in without carpet, it's that basic and restaurant is only open for breakfast.

Tomorrow it's Inverness and back.